Building construction



Ap 17, 1934. R. c. GRAEF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 3. 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Gra@r Kugel! 7d ATTORNEY April 17, 1934.`

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filecl April 3, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR lf2-M ATTORNEY R. c. GRAEF 1,954,928

April 17, 1934 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 3, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 R. c. GRAYEF 1,954,928

Patented Apr. 17, 1934 i Lenses 1,954,928 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Russell C. Graef, Westfield, N. J.-

Application April 3, 1933, SerialNo. 664,101

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in building wall structure and method of erecting the same; and this invention has reference, more particularly, to an improved wall structure and method of erecting the same of the general type and kind shown in my prior patent application, Ser. No. 609,675/25, filed May 6th, 1932.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a novel means for producing cast concrete wall structures, comprising an improved arrangement of wall form units capable of rapid assembly to furnish a casting form to receive and shape cast concrete into a wall, and a novel arrangement of means for tying said form units together in assembled relation; certain elements of the tying means combining with the cast concrete wall to provide means for connecting interior wall finishing panels with but in spaced relation to the cast concrete wall so as to provide an insulating air space in the finished wall structure.

'Ihe present invention has for a further object to provide in combination with dismantable outer and inner wall form panels, a novel unitary tie and bracket means to which said panels are separably connected and by which they are initially spaced in form producing relation, together with means cooperative with said tie and bracket means for joining adjacent panels in operative assembled relation, but all in such manner that the form panels may be easily removed from the finished concrete wall and from the tie and bracket means, whereby the latter may function to couple and attach interior wall finishing panels to the produced concrete wall.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will become apparent in the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in whichz- Fig. 1 is a vertical section of assembled wall form units and tying means therefor as disposed ready to cast a concrete wall core therein; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary interior side view of the same; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary exterior side view of the same; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, taken on line 4 4 in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section, taken centrally through one of the novel unitary tie and bracket means; Fig. 6 is an inner side face view, looking'from right to left in Fig; 5; Fig. l is an enlarged perspective of a tie and bracket supporting block, used in connection with the interior side wall form panels;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a unitary tie and bracket means; Fig. 9 is a vertical section, similar to that of Fig. 1 but showing the finished wall structure as completed; and Fig. 10 Y is a horizontal section of the finished wall.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Preparatory to the erection of the novel wall structure, a suitable foundation 10 is provided, and upon this foundation is first erected a wall .form produced by the novel assembly of wall form units. Each wall form unit comprises a pair of wall form panels, viz. an exterior panel 11 and interior panel 12. These panels are preferably made of pressed wood board, fibre board or like rigid material, and the same may be of any suitable thickness sufcient to provide the necessary strength and durability. The panels 11-12 are disposed in opposed spaced apart relation, according to the thickness of the cast concrete wall core desired to be formed in connection with the use thereof.` Said panels 11-12 are dismantably secured together in the desired spaced apart relation by novel combined tying, spacing and bracket forming means, each comprising, as a unitary element, a tie-bar 13 having at its outer end and integral therewith a foot-piece 14 extending at right angles thereto, said foot-piece having an internally threaded opening 15 therein, and integral with the inner end of said tiebar 13 is a bracket extension 16 off-set therefrom by the shoulder i7 which provides a stop for purposes presently to be described. The free end of said bracket extension 16 is provided with an upturned hook-lug 18. Any suitable number of the tie-bars 13 are secured in suitably disposed spaced relation to the inner face of the exterior panel 11, each being retained in place by eyebolts 19, the threaded shanks 20 of which are passed through the body of the panel 11 to screw into the threaded openings 15 of the foot-pieces 14 of said tie-bars 13. The interior .panel 12 is provided with circular openings 2l disposed to match the locations of the tie-bars 13 as secured to and extending from the exterior panel 11. The openings 21 are of such size as to permit the projection therethrough of the bracket extensions 16 and their hook-lugs 18. In order to support the tie-bars in operative relation to the interior panels l2, and against displacement therefrom, each opening 21 is provided with a seating block 22. Each such seating block is shaped on its underside to conform to the lower side of the opening, and is provided at its top with a iiat seat 23. On each lower side margin, the block is provided with a depending peripheral flange 24. The seating blocks 22 are removably engageable in the panel openings 21, and when entered therein, are supported against lateral displacement by the flanges 24 which overlap or straddle the margins of said openings 21. When the blocks are in place, the bracket extensions 16, as projected through the openings 21, are seated upon and supported by the flat seats 23 of the blocks. The interior panel 12 is thrust back against the stop shoulders 17 of the tie-bars,

being thus spaced the desired distance from theA exterior panel 11.

In a bottom course, the wall formnnits are arranged end to end upon the foundation 10 so as to rise therefrom. To prevent spreading of the bottom ends of the units, retainer bars 26, having up-turned lugs 26 at their ends, are arranged to embrace the exterior and interior panels of the units, the lower margins of said panels being preferably notched vto receive said retainer bars.

The interior panels 1 2 of the bottom course of wall form units are provided with suitably spaced notchesy 27 to receive and straddle first oor beams 23 which are footed upon the foundation 10.

vUpon erection of the lower course of wall form units, the same are both interconnected and retained in alignment and the interior panels locked to the tie-bars in the following manner and by the following means.

ISuitable lengths of furring strips 29 are laid upon and across the lower rows of the exteriorly projecting bracket extensions 16 between the hook-lugs 18 thereof and the outer surfaces of theinterior panels 12, thus retaining the latter in abutting relation to the stop shoulders 17 of the tie-'bars 13, and thus immovably retained in proper spaced relationto the exterior panels l1, while yat the vsame time adjoining wall forni units areretained in alignment with one another. Suitable lengths of angle irons are disposed with theirhorizontal flanges 30 laid upon and across thev upper row of theA exteriorly projecting bracket extensions 16 between the hook-lugs 18 thereof and the outer surfaces of the interior panels l2, and their vertical flanges 31 disposed contiguous to outer surfaces of said interior panels `12 so as to project upwardly above the upper margins thereof to provide a keeper flange to engage the inner sides of the next above set or row of wall form units. Applied contiguous to the outer faces of the exterior panels 11 so as to project upwardly above the upper margins thereof to provide a keeper flange to engage the outer sides of the next above set or row of wall form units, are running lengths of metal strips or bars 32;, thejsame being secured in place by the eyebolts f1 9 of the top row of tie-bars 13.

' A second course of wall form units of the described construction is superimposed upon the bottom course of form units, with their lower margins tted between the keeper flanges provided in the manner and by the means above described, the same being thus retained in vertical alignment with said bottom course. In like manner, a third or top course ofwall form units of c-rresponding construction is joined with and superimposed upon the second course. The interior panels, 12 of said top course are provided intheir upper margins with suitably spaced openings o`r notches t'o receive the ends of second floor beams 33 or roof rafters as the case may be, whereby the ends of the saine may project into the form space so as to be enveloped and supported by the wall core, when the latter is cast therein.

In addition to the retaining strips or bars 32, associated with the exterior panels of the form wall units as above described, suitable forms of coupling links or bars 34 are provided, to be engaged by the eye-bolts 19 so as to couple together adjoining wall orm units voi the several courses thereof.

While I have shown the three courses of wall form units per building story, it will be obvious that the units may be sized to require either a greater or less number of such courses. It will also 'be obvious that the courses may be angularly disposed and joined together in suitable manner to form the desired angles or corners of a building wall, as shown for example in Fig. 4.

The eye-bolts 19, by reason of their exteriorly disposed eye portions, provide a means for the attachment of externally applied guys or stay cables (not'shown), which may be Autilized to brace and true the form preparatory to casting of concrete therein.

After the wall form has been erected to a desired height, or'froin time to time as given courses thereof are completed, a wet mixture o f concrete is poured intothe moldspace M between the panels 11 and' 12, thusv forming a cast concrete integral wall'core 35 Where the concrete wall core 3 6 foots upon the foundation 10, the same will ow around and imbed the ends of vthe floor beam 23, and, in like manner; as the wall core rises, the same willflow" around and imbed'the ends of the floor beams or rafters 33, thus firmly engaging and supporting these elements'of the building Structure. in place.

After the wall core 35'has been cast and has set, the completionof the finished wall structure is proceeded with in the following manner. The eye-bolts 19 are unscrewed and removed from their connection with the tie-bars 13, the'latter remaining imbedded in the Wall core 35. After the eye-bolts 19 are removed, the metal strips 32 and couplingl links or bars 34 are removed, whereupon'the exterior panels 11 of the wall form units maybe stripped away'from the exterior face of the wall core 35,"whereupon an exterior finish coat of stucco, plaster. or other suitable material 3 6 (see Figs. Sand 10.) is applied to the exterior face of the Wallcore, thus completing the outer sideV ofthe wallv structure. The inner side of the wall structure is completed as follows. The furring strips '29y 'and angle irons 39-31 are lifted away from the bracket extensions 16, whereupon the interiorpillels 12 may be stripped away from the interior face of the wall core 35, and withdrawn overY the: bracket extensions 16, the latter'being thus exposed in operative projection from the inner face of said wall core 35.

Sinceithe removed panels 1 1` and 12` may bereassembled together with new tie-rods to again form the described wall form units, it will be obvious that' 'allthe elements except the tiebars'rnay be used over and over again until so worn as to render replqement advisable. It will thus be 'obvious that a very economical method of wall construction is provided, with a minimum waste of material.

i After the interior panels, 12 are removed, interior finishingl orl facing panels 37. are applied to theprojecting braclfiet. extensions 16. These facing panels 37 are'pr'ovided on their inner sides with metallic Or like.' s fzelsei'sirars 381 to. receive. the hebtlues 18 Qf; the. masker. extensions 16,.

whereby the panels 37 are supported in place and spaced away from the inner surface of the wall core 35 so as to provide in the nished wall structure an internal insulating air space S (see Figs. 9 and l0) From the above description it will be apparrent that this invention provides a simple, economical, rapid and eiicient method of erecting building wall structures, and that the resultant novel wall structure is of very simple yet strong and durable character, and includes the very desirable feature or internal insulating air space for insulation against heat, cold and moisture.

am aware that various changes could be made in the above described constructions and that widely diiierent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope hereof; it is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the acc nipanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

l. A building wall, comprising a plurality of interjoined abutting wall form units; each unit including laterally spaced exterior and interior panels and tie-bars extending between the same, said tie-bars having bracket extensions projecting through said interior panels and terminating at their outer ends in hook-lugs, detachable means to secure said tie-bars to said exterior panels; detachable keeper means disposable upon the free projecting end portions of said bracket extensions horiaontally along the courses of form units to retain the interior panels thereof in place and the unit-s in longitudinal alignment; a concrete core wall cast between said panels or" assembled units; said exterior and interior panels of said units being removable from said core wall; and interior nishing panels adapted to be supported by the hook-lugs oi said bracket extensions in spaced relation to the inner face of said core wall so as to provide an insulating air space within the nnished wall.

2. A building wall, comprising a plurality of interjoined abutting wall form units; each unit including laterally spaced exterior and interior panels, tie-bars extending between said panels, each tie-bar having a foot-piece to abut the exterior panel, eye-bolts engaged through said exterior panel and to the tie-bar foot-pieces, each tie-bar having at its opopsite end a stop shoulder to abut the interior panel, bracket extensions integral with said tie-bars .and oil set by said stop shoulders, said bracket extensions having hooklugs at their free ends, said interior panel having openings through which said bracket extensions project; detachable keeper means disposable upon the free projecting end portions of said bracket extensions horizontally along the courses of form units to retain the interior panels thereof in place and the units in longitudinal alignment; a concrete core wall cast between said panels of assembled units, said exterior and interior panels oi said units being removable from said cover wall; and interior iinishing panels adapted to be supported by the hook-lugs of said bracket extensions in spaced relation to the inner face of said core wall so as to provide an insulating air space within the nished wall.

3. A building wall, comprising a plurality of interjoined abutting wall form units; each unit including laterally spaced exterior and interior panels, tie-bars extending between said panels, each tie-bar having a foot-piece to abut the exterior panel, eye-bolts engaged through said exterior panel and to the tie-bar foot pieces, each tie-bar having at its opposite end a stop-shoulder to abut the interior panel, bracket extensions integral with said tie-bars and off-set by said shoulders, said bracket extensions having hooklugs at their free ends, said interior panel having openings to admit passage therethrough of said bracket extensions and their hook-lugs, seating blocks supported within said openings to in turn support said bracket extensions as projected therethrough; detachable keeper means disposable upon the free projecting end portions of said bracket extensions horizontally along the courses of form units to retain the interior panels thereof in place and the units in longitudinal alignment; a concrete core wall cast between said panels oi assembled units, said exterior and interior panels of said units being removable from said core wall; and interior finishing panels adapted to be supported by the hook-lugs of said bracket extensions in spaced relation to the inner face of said core wall so as to provide an insulating air space within the finished wall.

li. A building wall, comprising a plurality of interjoined abutting wall form units; each unit including laterally spaced exterior and interior panels, tie-bars extending between said panels, each tie-bar having a foot-piece to abut the exterior panel, eye-bolts engaged through said exterior panel and to the tie-bar foot pieces, each tie-bar having at its opposite end a stop-shoulder to abut the interior panel, bracket extensions integral with said tie-bars and oli-set by said shoulders, said bracket extensions having hooklugs at their free ends, said interior panel having openings to admit passage therethrough of said bracket extensions and their hook-lugs, seating blocks supported within said openings to in turn support said bracket extensions as projected therethrough; angle irons removably disposable upon the free projecting end portions or' the upper row of bracket extensions horizontally along the upper margins of the interior panels of the courses of form units with the vertical flanges of said angle irons adapted to overlap the interior panels oi an adjacent superimposed course of form units; keeper plates removably attached by said eye-bolts to extend horizontally along the upper margins of the exterior panels of the courses of form units so as to overlap the exterior panels of an adjacent superimposed course of form units; keeper strips removably disposable upon the free projecting end portions of other bracket extensions horizontally along the courses of form units to retain the interior panels thereof in place and the units in longitudinal alignment; a concrete core wall cast between said panels of assembled units; said exterior and interior panels of said units being removable from said core wall; and interior finishing panels adapted tc be supported by the hook-lugs oi said bracket extensions in spaced relation to the inner face of said core wall so as to provide an insulating air space within the iinished Wall.

5. ln combination with a wall body of cast concrete, members imbedded transversely in said wall body, said members having, unitary therewith, bracket extensions exteriorly projected from a face of said wall body, facing panels adapted to be suspended on and supported by said bracket extensions in spaced relation to said wall body so as to provide an intermediate insulating air space.

RUSSELL C. GRAEF. 

